2019 JUS' BLUES HONOREES

Jus` Blues Lifetime Living Legends Award

IRMA THOMAS

Outstanding Contributions to Blues & Soul Music

Irma Thomas is an American Blues singer from New Orleans. She is known as the "Soul Queen of New Orleans". She has won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album for After the Rain, her first Grammy in a career spanning over 50 years. She then began recording on the Minit label, working with songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint on songs including "It's Raining" and "Ruler of My Heart", which was later reinterpreted by Otis Redding as "Pain in My Heart". Imperial Records acquired Minit in 1963, and a string of successful releases followed. These included "Wish Someone Would Care", her biggest national hit; its B-side "Breakaway", written by Jackie DeShannon and Sharon Sheely.

Little Milton Lifetime Bluesman Award

LIL RAY NEAL

Smooth vocals, a unique Blues sound with Feelings

Lil Ray (Raful Neal III)  has long been regarded as one of the finest blues guitarists in the business. Raised in Ervinville, Louisiana, he started playing at Spooner's, a country store/club owned by his grandfather when he was about 12 years old.  His father played at that store with his band and during the break he would let Ray and his brothers get up to play.. In 1976 the Neal family moved to Baton Rouge and within a few years Ray was playing regularly with his father.  In 1980 his brother Kenny asked him and his brothers to join him in Toronto, Canada until his visa ran out and he went back to Baton Rouge. Little Milton offered Ray a job with his band and it was back on the road Ray is grateful that he had the opportunity to play with some of the greatest musicians that have ever took the stage. Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, BB King, James Cotton, Buddy Guy, Bobby Bland, Tyrone Davis, Johnny Taylor, and the list goes on and on.

Willie Mitchell Lifetime Artist Award

TRUDY LYNN

​Outstanding Contributions to Blues & Soul ​

Trudy Lynn is a and soul blues singer and songwriter, whose recorded work has been released on twelve studio albums, one live album, and four compilation albums Her professional singing career began in the mid-1960s, when she sang with the guitarist Albert Collins and then later, Clarence Green. Use of her stage name of Trudy Lynn was in place when she performed with the Rhythmaires in the late 1960s. Her early work was in the rhythm and blues genre, and she once opened for Ike & Tina Turner.  In the 1970s, Lynn expanded her performing base from clubs in Houston, to regional work and then overseas.

in 1989  Lynn's Ichiban Records released the first of five albums she recorded for them. Her debut, Trudy Sings the Blues, included her cover version of "Ball 'n' Chain" The following year, Come to Mama ,a mixture of soul and blues. Her 1999 release, U Don't Know What Time It Is, issued by Warner Brothers Records, ncluded keyboards input from Lucky Peterson, with Bernard Allison on guitar. I'm Still Here, released in May 2006, was recorded with the Calvin Owens Blues Her album, Royal Oaks Blues Cafe, reached number one in the Billboard Top Blues Albums Chart in September 2014.

​Bobby Blue Bland” Lifetime Blues Award

Don Bryant

Outstanding Blues & Soul Music Stylist

Donald Maurice Bryant  was born in Memphis Tennessee , the middle of ten children. He began singing in church at age 5. He soon joined his father’s family vocal group and would eventually form a gospel quartet for a high school radio show, finding success singing secular pop songs on Dick “Cane” Cole’s popular WLOK show. The quartet, performing as The Four Kings, would part with Cole to become the front band for Willie Mitchell, with Bryant as the leading man.

In 1960, the still teenage Bryant was offered a shot at songwriting, penning “I Got To Know” for The 5 Royales. He wrote material for other artists at Hi Records while continuing to record with The Four Kings and as a solo artist, resulting in a 1969 solo album. However, with the success of Al Green, Otis Clay, and other vocalists at Hi, Bryant’s singing career took a backseat to writing.  Bryant is credited on as many as 154 titles. By 1970, Willie Mitchell had begun to pair Bryant with his newest act, a young Ann Peebles, for whom he wrote “99 Pounds” and “Do I Need You.” The pair co-wrote the Top 40 hit "I Can't Stand the Rain" in 1973, and would be married the following year. 

KoKo Taylor “Queen of the Blues” Awards

GAYE ADEGBALOLA

Preserving Traditional Blues Heritage

Gaye Adegbalola was born and raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She finished Boston University with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. She has a Master's degree in Educational Media (with a concentration in photography) from Virginia State University.

In the early '70s, she began her teaching career, while she directed Harambee 360º Experimental Theater. She was able to creatively use performance as a tool to assist black youth in gaining confidence as they struggled with identity issues during the spread of "integration."

By maintaining the blues legacy, she now sees herself as a contemporary griot – keeping the history alive, delivering messages of empowerment, ministering to the heartbroken, and finding joy in the mundane. As a founding member of Saffire – the Uppity Blues Women, she became a full-time performer.

Jus' Blues "The Muddy"  Lifetime Blues Award

Y. Z. EALEY

Outstanding Contributions to Traditional Blues

Y Z Ealey—first began playing guitar as a child by picking up the guitar of his older brother “Bubba”   In 1955 Ealey joined the Navy, and at the end of his service settled in Oakland, where his brother Bubba was living, In Oakland Ealey performed with artists including Big Mama Thornton of “Hound Dog” fame, and recalls fondly the music of local recording artists Johnny Fuller, Jimmy McCracklin and steel guitarist L.C. “Good Rockin’” Robinson.  Upon his return to Natchez in 1959 Ealey began billing himself as YZ “Good Rockin’” Ealey in tribute to Robinson. 

Denise LaSalle Lifetime Recording Of Excellence Award

E. C. SCOTT

​Recording Of Excellence 

E.C. Scott is an American blues, gospel and soul singer, songwriter, record producer and television host  In her childhood she sang at the local St. John Missionary Baptist Church. She later turned her attention to soul music and began singing in nightclubs at the age of 16, she was performing professionally two years later. Scott released her debut single in 1988 and built up a local fan base   She appeared at a number of blues festivals, and performed at Grand Openings for the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Ballet, and the San Francisco Opera, before signing a recording contract with Blind Pig Records in 1994. Her first album, Come Get Your Love was released in 1995. Her self-released album, The Other Side of Me (2003), included more of her self-penned numbers, and had a guest vocal appearance by Little Milton on two of the tracks, 

Benny Latimore “Let's Straighten It Out” Award ​

SENATOR WILLIE SIMMONS

Working behind the scenes
Preserving Delta Blues Heritage

Willie Simmons born March 21, 1947 is a Democratic member of the Mississippi State Senate, representing District 13. He was first elected to the chamber in1 993.​ Senator Simmons is owner of Simmons and Associates Consultant Firm and the Senator's Place Restaurant in Cleveland, Mississippi. He is active in the National Association of State Legislators, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, MLBC, Foundation for Education & Economic Development, Inc, and the Mississippi Grammy Museum. He is an Omega Psi Phi and a Life member of Alcorn State University and Delta State University Alumni Associations.

Bobby Rush Lifetime Blues Entertainers Award

MICKEY RODGERS

Artist who continues to maintain the tradition of Blues “Show-Business”

Mickey Rogers, is a self-styled “blues and rhythm and blues” musician. As a boy, he often traveled back and forth by train to Chicago, once with the young, aspiring singer Tyrone Davis with whom he would later work. As a teen, he sat in on bass with Howlin Wolf’s band at Silvio’s. He accompanied Wolf’s band to England in the early 1960s. In Chicago, he worked as a sideman with the Chi-Lites and spent nearly sixteen years with Tyrone Davis’s band, eventually touring with both groups. Mickey has worked with Ike and Tina Turner, Jimi Hendrix, the Isley Brothers. the Funk Brothers, The Pips, and the Elgins, Martha Reeves, Marvin Gaye, Tammy Terrell, and others. He has worked with Otis Clay for years, then also bluesman Bobby Rush—both in Chicago and later down south, after each had moved back to Mississippi. Remaining active in Mississippi, Rogers became accompanist to harp blower Willie Foster, with whom he recorded and toured Europe three times.

Bobby Byrd "I Know You Got Soul" Awards

O.B.BUCHANA

Blues, Soul & Funk Heritage
 
Born in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, O. B. Buchana. began his musical career at eight years old singing gospel songs in a Baptist church choir. It did not take long for O. B. to emerge as a lead singer, and by the time he was a teenager, the gospel group, The Mighty Suns of God, selected him as their lead singer. 

In the early 1990's O. B. signed with the record label, Blue River, and his recording career kicked off with the single, "Back Up Lover". Soon after the success of "Back Up Lover" O. B. signed with Suzie Q Records in Shreveport, LA where he recorded two CD's: "It's Over" and "I Got Caught". Both CDs were strong sellers and the songs "Let's Get Drunk" and "I Can't Choose" became radio staples throughout the South.

Millie Jackson “Classy & Sassy” Award

SWEET ANGEL

Outstanding Contributions to
Blues & Soul "Keeping it Real"
​
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Sweet Angel was part of the Orff Music Program. There she sung with the chorus and learned to play the xylophone. In middle school, she broadened her musical abilities when she learned to play clarinet in the band. She excelled in music and played alto saxophone at Libertyland in Memphis, Tennessee with the unit that played for the Elvis Presley impersonator.  Sweet Angel fluently plays over 15 different woodwind instruments.

Sweet Angel's first album (2007) was “Another Man’s Meat on My Plate Recorded initially under an independent label formed by her and her husband, the album received favorable recognition. In 2008, this album was the key to Sweet Angel winning the Jus’ Blues Music Awards - Best New Southern Soul Female. ‘Another Man’s Meat on My Plate’ remains the singer’s signature song.
In 2008, Ecko Records released Sweet Angel’s second album ‘Handle Your Business’

"King Of The Blues" Award  "Tribute to B. B. King"

STEVIE J.

Young Blues Artist Continue to
​Preserve the Style of Traditional Blues Heritage
​
​Jackson-native blues and soul artist Stephen Johnson fans hail him as the new face of Delta blues and Mississippi's best-kept secret, due to his passion for the history of his craft.  He wants listeners to know that when they come to see him perform, they should "come expecting a history lesson in the blues."Johnson, grew up playing music in the church, eventually lending his guitar skills to gospel greats such as Shirley Caesar. But it wasn't until legendary bluesman Bobby Rush took him under his wing that he made the move to blues and southern soul.

Albert King Lifetime Award “The Lucy Award”

Little Freddie King

Being on Fire, Feeling, Funk & Soul
Outstanding Blues & Soul Music

Born in McComb, Mississippi in 1940, Fread E. Martin grew up playing alongside his blues guitar-picking father (Jessie James Martin), then rode the rails to New Orleans during the early fifties where he met "Poka- Dot" Slim and "Boogie" Bill Webb whose unique country-cum-urban styles would influence his own. He played at notorious joints like the Bucket of Blood (which he later immoralized in song), and he gigged with Bo Diddley , John Lee Hooker, and also played bass for the legendary Freddy Kingl Little ​Freddie King is undeniably the monarch of the Crescent City blues scene.